Services / Mapping & surveying
Drone Mapping & Surveying in Cairns
Up-to-date orthomosaic maps, 3D models and progress records of your site, captured in hours rather than days. Ideal for construction, agriculture, land management and planning across Far North Queensland.
Discuss your site
Accurate, current maps of your site
Satellite imagery is often months or years old and too coarse to plan from. We fly automated grid missions over your site and process hundreds of overlapping photos into a single detailed, measurable map or 3D model.
Repeat the same flight weekly or monthly and you have a clear visual record of how a project, paddock or coastline is changing.
Outputs
What drone mapping can give you
Orthomosaic maps
3D models
Elevation & stockpiles
Construction progress
Agriculture
Environment & coastline
File formats
- GeoTIFF orthomosaics and elevation models
- KMZ for Google Earth
- 3D models in common formats (OBJ, PLY, LAS point clouds)
- PDF map sheets for easy sharing
Working with your surveyor
Drone mapping is a fast way to capture site conditions, but it does not replace a cadastral or legal survey by a registered surveyor. We are happy to work alongside your surveyor, for example by flying a site they have set control points on.
Drone mapping FAQ
What is an orthomosaic map?
An orthomosaic is a single, geometrically corrected image stitched together from hundreds of overlapping drone photos. Because scale is consistent across the image, you can measure distances and areas and compare the same site over time.
Does drone mapping replace a licensed survey?
No. Drone maps and 3D models are ideal for progress records, planning and visual reference, but cadastral and legal boundary work must be done by a registered surveyor. Drone data can complement your surveyor’s work.
What affects the accuracy of a drone map?
Flight height, image overlap, lighting, vegetation and the use of ground control points all affect accuracy. We talk through the level of detail your project needs before we plan the flight.
Can you fly near Cairns Airport?
Many Cairns suburbs sit inside controlled airspace around Cairns Airport. As a CASA-certified operator we check the airspace for every job and apply for the approvals needed before we fly. Tell us the location and we will confirm what is possible and how much notice we need.